Does Earnin work with NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits?
I've been getting my weekly unemployment payments from NYS Department of Labor for about 6 weeks now and things are tight between payments. I heard about this app called Earnin that lets you get money early but I'm not sure if it works with unemployment benefits. Has anyone tried using Earnin or similar apps while collecting UI? I don't want to mess up my claim or have issues with my weekly certifications.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
Earnin typically requires you to have a regular paycheck from an employer because it tracks your work hours and location. Since unemployment benefits come from NYS Department of Labor and not an employer, Earnin probably won't work with your UI payments. The app is designed for people who are working but need an advance on their paycheck.
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Giovanni Colombo
•That makes sense, I figured it might be too good to be true. Thanks for explaining how it actually works.
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StarStrider
i tried earnin when i was on unemployment last year and it didnt work. you need to connect it to your employer and show work hours. unemployment doesnt count as employment obviously
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Dylan Campbell
Be very careful with any cash advance apps while on unemployment. Even if you find one that works, you need to make sure it doesn't interfere with your job search requirements or weekly claim reporting. Some apps require you to report income immediately and that could complicate your NYS Department of Labor weekly certifications if not handled properly.
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Giovanni Colombo
•Good point about the reporting requirements. I definitely don't want to accidentally mess up my weekly claims over a cash advance.
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Sofia Torres
Instead of trying cash advance apps, you might want to look into local emergency assistance programs or food banks to help stretch your unemployment benefits. Many communities have resources specifically for people dealing with temporary financial hardship like unemployment.
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Dmitry Sokolov
Just curious - are you having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor about your payment schedule? Sometimes if there are delays or issues with your weekly payments, there might be other solutions. I had to call them a few times when my payments were irregular and it helped to actually talk to someone. If you're having trouble reaching them by phone, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.
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Giovanni Colombo
•My payments have been coming regularly, I'm just trying to make ends meet between the weekly payments. But good to know about Claimyr in case I ever need to reach NYS Department of Labor directly.
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Ava Martinez
The whole gig economy cash advance thing is a mess when you're on unemployment anyway. Most of those apps want to see consistent income patterns and unemployment benefits just don't fit their algorithms. Plus you dont want to risk any complications with your claim over a few dollars.
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Freya Andersen
Have you considered reaching out to 211 by dialing 2-1-1? They can connect you with local resources like emergency rent assistance, utility help, and food programs that might help bridge the gap between your unemployment payments. Many of these programs are specifically designed for people in temporary situations like unemployment and won't affect your NYS Department of Labor benefits at all.
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